Tzipi Livni won the election in Israel to replace Prime Minister Elmud Olmert Thursday as head of the Kadima Party. According to the Associated Press, Livni, Israel's foreign minister and a political moderate, secured 43.1 percent of the vote. Shaul Mofaz, a former defense minister and military leader received 42 percent of the vote.

Olmert, who will resign due to corruption allegations, will most likely step down sometime after next Sunday's Cabinet meeting. Livni will then begin the process of formally creating a new ruling coalition. She will have 42 days to form the coalition and, if successful, will become the first female prime minister since Golda Meir resigned 34 years ago. If she is unable to create a new coalition, Israel will hold elections next year.

The government under Olmert had planned to forge an agreement with Palestine by the end of the year. According to BBC News, Livni will most likely continue where Olmert’s government left off, negotiating the movement of Jewish settlers and transfer of Israeli territory to Palestine. Linvi is known for her non-confrontational approach in peace talks.

After years of violence and unrest in the region, Israelis hope Livni can resolve many of the problems faced by Israelis and Palestinians. According to the AP, Shula Lon, a resident of Jerusalem, felt encouraged by the election of the would-be prime minister. "I really wish her the best, that she will bring peace," she said. "After so many generations (when) nobody succeeded, maybe a woman could do it now."

2/27/2015 This Bipartisan Bill Will Hold Colleges Accountable for Ending Campus Sexual Assault - A bipartisan bill aimed at holding colleges and universities accountable for rape and sexual assault cases was introduced in Congress yesterday, spearheaded by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Some of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act's key key provisions include a requirement of confidential reporting systems on colleges and universities, minimum training requirements for campus personnel, and stricter penalties for schools found to be in violation of Title IX or the Clery Act. . . .

2/26/2015 If This Bill Passes Federal Law Will Add Consent to Sex Ed Curriculums - Right now, federal law does not require health or sex education to include sexual assault prevention - but that could change with a new bill introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
The Teach Safe Relationships Act of 2015, which was introduced earlier this month, would require all public secondary schools in the country to include teaching "safe relationship behavior" in order to help prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. . . .